MAGISTRATE CRITICISED.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 February 1918, Page 5

MAGISTRATE CRITICISED.

LEGAL FRATERNITY ANNOYED. It is an open secret that a certain magistrate in Wellington is anything but popular Yfith the legal fraternity of the city (says the Wellington Times). Some time back a deputation from the Law Society waited on the then' Minister of Justice in reference to this magistrate and another associate then dealing out sentences and decisions in Wellington. Now it is understood that the w .,- trate referred to in the first place Ig fes be the subject of a second deputation to the present Minister of Justice. Solicitors state that they have chafed long enough under the decisions of this magistrate. His attitude in many civil cases has met with anything but favor. The first direct reference to this particular stipendiary magistrate's decisions was made in the Supreme Court this week in a certain appeal against his decision in a case. The speaker was a prominent local legal light, a "K.C.," who, after making some references to the magistrate in question, said: "Speaking quite frankly, there was a very general feeling among the profession that in regard to the court presided over by the magistrate from whom the appeal was brought, there was far too great a tendency to believe the police evidence as conclusive, and it was futile to attempt a defence contradictory of any such evidence." This statement has caused a revival of feeling among the gentlemen who are such keen seekers after "costs." The remark has been very actively discussed.